The end grain is more subject to tear out and damaged fibers, besides being harder to sand so extra effort is required. Just lightly make sweeping passes to cover the entire piece. Now go ahead and start sanding … I am fortunate enough to have a job that requires me to have some very nice ( and often expensive) tools. Sand your wood surface in the same direction as the wood grain rather than against it, which can leave cross-sanding marks on the wood. This was going to be a continuation of my “Live Edge for Beginners” series. Klingspor and Mirka are both significantly cheaper than Festool. It depends. Marking your grid to know where you have sanded and where you haven’t. Cross-grain sanding scratches aren’t very visible under a clear finish, but they show up very clearly under a stain. So I’ll keep it pretty basic. Between sanding passes, the surfaces should be wiped clean with a tack cloth or clean cloth moistened with mineral spirits. The scratching that does occur is then more likely to be disguised by the grain of the wood. For my favorite hardwax finish (Osmo), I sand to 220 or 320. If you’d like more info on how to get a live edge slab perfectly flat, check out this previous article I wrote on that topic. The sanding scratches won’t show as long as they are in the direction of the grain. Sanding finer than #180 or #220 is wasted effort in most cases, as explained in the text. Between sanding passes, the surfaces should be wiped clean with a tack cloth or clean cloth moistened with mineral spirits. When you have used up one side, turn the folded sandpaper and use the other. planing a board against. Sanding the floorboards diagonally is definitely required where adjacent boards are not level. Planing or jointing operations work best when the knives cut in the same direction as the grain. This method works very well for him, although I worry a little about any standard patterns like this. Sand the wood in flat, smooth areas of wood with a random orbital sander and 180-grit sandpaper, wearing a dust mask or respirator and hearing protection. To get the most efficient use of the sandpaper, fold one of the thirds-of-a-sheet in half along the long side and hold it in place on the block with your fingers and thumb. This means there’s less abrasive scratching. Sanding leaves dust on the wood, and clearing it is critical before you apply anything to it. And for once, the better option is actually cheaper! It’s not possible to do a thorough job of sanding with the lathe running and holding sandpaper against the wood, or power sanding with the lathe running. Sometimes the scraper is turned a little and a shearing cut made across the surface. Always sand in the direction of the grain--never perpendicular to it or at an angle. The grain in wood is one of its most attractive features, but one that can also make it difficult to work with. The most efficient use of sandpaper for hand-backed sanding is to tear the 9″ x 11″ sheet of sandpaper into thirds crossways, then fold each of these pieces into thirds lengthways. (See “What Is Oil?” in issue #154, April 2006, for a more thorough explanation of both processes.). I have even talked with Festool about this, and they confirmed when using an orbital sander it makes no difference. Belt sanders can save both time and energy. For a urethane or varnish i’ll generally sand to 220. If you don't raise the grain now, the stain will raise it later, but re-sanding to get the wood smooth again removes much of the stain. The grain of a wood is the direction in which most or all of the wood fibers are pointing, and one of the axioms of woodworking is to sand with the grain. First and foremost, sandpaper. A random orbital spins, and vibrates ‘randomly’ as it runs. A brush kicks the dust up in the air to dirty your shop and possibly land back on your work during finishing. The most efficient method of doing this is to begin sanding with a coarse enough grit of sandpaper to cut through and remove the problems quickly, then sand out the coarse-grit scratches with finer and finer grits until you reach the smoothness you want – usually up to #150, #180 or #220 grit. About the only place where wood glue alone isn’t very effective is on the end grain of boards. In fact, the finer the grit the wood is sanded to, the less color a stain leaves when the excess is wiped off. Okay, that is not a bad idea. Fine sanding. When I change grits I will also start in a different area of my piece than I did with the previous grit. Which makes for essentially 100% dust free sanding. Unquestionably, the most efficient progression is to sand through every grit – #80, #100, #120, #150, #180 – sanding just enough with each to remove the scratches of the previous grit. Save up to 68% on 7 issues of woodworking projects and tricks. If you think about the way your random orbital operates, sanding across the grain might not seem as bad. I’ve compared expensive tools to a heated steering wheel. Be certain to follow the direction of the wood grain during the sanding process, because the stain will highlight any cross-grain marks. But for refinishing and finer sanding, it should be operated only in line with the direction of the wood grain to avoid leaving scratches, skips, or chatter marks. I understand that is not the case for the other 99% of woodworkers. There are many ways to cut a piece of wood, these are a few of the different methods. I’m mostly joking here, they are actually an amazing vacuum. Sand at a slight angle to the grain. B. Orbital Finishing Sanders. Sanding with the grain the marks are much less likely to cut across the wood grain, leaving an obvious trail. Random Orbital Sander Bosch or Festool are what I’d recommend. Staining may be used to darken the wood, to bring out a grain pattern, to make one variety of wood look like another or to accent details or fixtures of a piece of furniture. Change to finer grits of sandpaper as needed, and stop sanding as soon as the scratches are no longer visible. So by sanding along the grain you will need less time with finer and finer sandpaper to get the same finish. Sand the table, beginning with the coarsest-grit sandpaper (100 grit) and sanding in the direction of the wood grain. Step 3: Finishing touches (and handy tips) Wood Surface Sanding Review Questions You can do the bulk of the final grit with the ROS but then you'll need to switch to hand sanding to remove the little cross grain marks the ROS will leave. Primarily, the wood fibers run from top to the base of an end-grain bowl. You should practice first on scrap wood to determine where this point is for you. But I will say it makes the most tedious part of woodworking much more enjoyable. Keep nice even pressure with your hands. Use a flat block to back the sandpaper if you are sanding a flat surface. This is the direction that the tree grows and the fibers of the wood … The type of finish you want to use may determine how high you sand. For the hand-sanding, we go in the same direction of the grain of each square of parquet. The end grain is more subject to tear out and damaged fibers, besides being harder to sand so extra effort is required. Sand down wood including the end grain to a smooth even surface using 100 - 150 grit sandpaper, sanding in the direction of the wood grain. By reversing the lathe, these fibers will be cut off by the abrasive sandpaper. It even continues to run for a few seconds after you turn your sander off. I also have a Festool vacuum hooked up to my sander. is often the result of. Any wood will work. Wipe down the wood to raise the grain. Compressed air works well if you have a good exhaust system, such as a spray booth, to remove the dust. I might get some hate mail on this one, but I feel that is a little antiquated and perhaps a remnant of the old days of hand sanding. 3. I go from 120 grit to 150, then to 220 grit on fine grain like walnut or cherry. get at reading grain direction,… This will enable you to know where you have sanded and where you haven’t. Direction does matter when you sand by hand, which you should always for your final grit. If you don’t remove the 120 sandpaper scratches entirely with the 150 grit, those scratches will be left in your finished table. Cross-grain. you will need the following grits though. So if you always starts and end in the same areas, there can be some inconsistencies across your piece. Sanding cross-grain tears the wood fibers so the sanding scratches show up much more, especially under a stain. Of course, doing this is seldom possible on turnings and decorative veneer patterns such as sunbursts and marquetry. Starting with 100 grit. It covers probably 99% of all sanding issues. Sanding with an orbital sander isn't direction dependent. This continues through every grit. Sanding across the grain really tears the fibres of the wood and helps to remove the worn surface very quickly. It is extremely helpful to get a very bright light to aid in finding out how your sanding is going. In all cases when sanding by hand, it’s best to sand in the direction of the wood grain when possible. Let the sander’s weight do the work. Grain direction and its relationship to cutting tools is one of those mysteries most beginner woodworkers struggle with. On most raw woods, start sanding in the direction of the grain using a #120-150 grit paper before staining and work up to #220 grit paper. Step 2: Vacuum the wood to remove dust from all cracks and give a clean work environment. In addition to being HEPA certified, you also plug your sander (or any tool) directly into the vac which starts automatically when you start your tool. As much as I love many of the Festool tools, I’m not a huge fan of their sandpaper. No matter which of the three sanding methods you use, always remove the sanding dust before advancing to the next-finer grit sandpaper. At least in theory sanding in one direction will lay the fibers down in the direction the lathe is traveling. But I decided this topic should be a little more all-encompassing. The best policy is to sand them out by hand in the direction of the grain after sanding to the finest grit, usually #180 or #220, with the sander. If you do an insufficient job here you will still see the planer/CNC/belt sander marks in your finished table. How to Read Grain Direction in Wood. The scratching that does occur is then more likely to be disguised by the grain of the wood. This snaps the raised wood whiskers off to the side rather than simply pressing them back down into their pores only to have them rise again when the finish is applied. I really find them to be very helpful for my new projects. A lot of knowing when you have sanded enough is learned by experience. If you can’t avoid cross-grain sanding, you will have to find a compromise between creating scratches fine enough so they don’t show and coarse enough so the stain still darkens the wood adequately. While I feel the finish quality is similar, the Klingspor and Mirka both seem to last longer. At an absolute bare minimum I am going to require you to buy a random orbital sander. Sanding with the grain produces a smoother surface because it doesn’t effect the micro-structure of the wood the way sanding across the grain does. Sand with the folded sandpaper until it dulls, flip the folded sandpaper over to use the second third, then refold to use the third third. Only if you are staining or using a vibrator (“pad”) or random-orbit sander does sanding above #180 grit make a difference. http://www.woodworkingbank.com. But don’t push too hard. You should know not all sandpaper is created equal though. ", https://www.popularwoodworking.com/wp-content/uploads/popwood_logos-01.png, https://www.popularwoodworking.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/ffcrossgrain485-573.jpg, Shaker Storage & Shelving Shop Resources Collection, © 2020 Cruz Bay Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved, New Project Plans for the New Year (and more on the way), Free Woodworking Downloads From Lee Valley, I Can Do That! Cross-grain. First, don’t press down on the sander when sanding. Being sure that these flaws and scratches are removed is the reason most of us sand more than we need to. Just get the wood clean enough so you can’t feel or pick up any dust when wiping your hand over the surface. This will enable you to know where you have sanded and where you haven’t. ... To understand this, it may help to think of the word direction following the word grain. Lastly, you may be the person who just likes nice stuff. About the only place where wood glue alone isn’t very effective is on the end grain of boards. In exterior applications, wood typically cracks perpendicular to the grain. Sanding and Abrasives ; Glues and Adhesives ... it may help to think of the word direction following the word grain. Using 120 grit or finer sandpaper, sand the surface to be stained. Simply move the sander slowly over the surface of the wood in some pattern that covers all areas approximately equally. Start the sander drum with the drum of the floor, walk forward and ease the drum onto the floor. Just good dry wood. You should also be careful when you get to the edges of your piece. If the floor is uneven sand diagonally at 45° across the room in both directions. Ok, maybe tolerable is a better word. Cross-grain. Subscribe ». Sanding is very personal. By coating the surface rather than seeping into the wood grain, a gel stain creates a professional-looking finish on even these most stubborn wood surfaces. So I started at one end of the table with my power sander, in the direction of the wood grain of the band around the edge of the table. Use a Sanding Block for Flat Surfaces. End-grain bowls are less common than side-grain, but a bowl can be made using end-grain directed wood fibers. Repeat with further … A more in depth discussion of grain direction in wood. However, this does not impact our recommendations. But these finishes can be made ultimately smooth simply by sanding between cured coats or sanding each additional coat while it is still wet on the surface using #400- or #600-grit sandpaper. The wood will absorb moisture from the air and cause the piece to warp. This method reduces waste to zero and also reduces the tendency of the folds to slip as you’re sanding. The final appearance of the wood will be the same whether you move the sander with the grain of the wood or against it, although going with the grain of the wood is generally more efficient and cleaner. Photography lights make the best shop lights in my opinion. I refer to these as “squigglies.” The best policy is to sand them out by hand in the direction of the grain after sanding to the finest grit, usually #180 or #220, with the sander. While you can do the same thing by sanding across the grain it will take much longer. Oil and oil/varnish-blend finishes have no measurable build, so any roughness in the wood caused by coarse sanding telegraphs through. I will make passes running with the grain. No polyurethene, shellac, lacquer, hardwax, or other type of wood finish. Sanding cross-grain tears the wood fibers so the sanding scratches show up much more, especially under a stain. Sanding Techniques How to Level Uneven Floors. Don’t get me wrong, its much better to find out now, instead of after you have applied your finish. Must be used in the direction of the wood grain, or there will be visible scratch marks. Seal the Stain: This is the final stage and you need to complete it successfully. Always scrape with the grain of the wood. Always sand in the direction of the wood grain. Sanding with the grain is best because it’s less aggressive and you have less scratching, making for a … I made my own sanding block. Step 1: Sand the surface to be stained, using 120 grit or finer sandpaper. Using the 100 grit sanding discs (I originally sanded the entire table with this grit), I carefully and methodically began sanding off the two coats of stain I had applied, one section of wood grain at a time. This will get the floor flat and clean (though very rough looking) quickly. The basic rule of sanding is you always sand with the direction of the wood grain, never against it. Because the natural edge bowl is turned in the reverse direction of the regular bowl, the wood grain pattern is also reversed. … So I tend to make more circular patterns with my sander running both with and across the grain in a more random pattern. Its measurements are 2 3/4″ x 3 7/8″ x 1 1/4″ thick, with the top edges chamfered for a more comfortable grip. Wood finishing is fun and easy. However, if you live in North Dakota that $800 steering wheel might be your favorite part of the car. We may receive a commission from sales referred by our links; however, we have carefully selected these products for their usefulness and quality. For example, a board that has been run through a planer with dull knives will require a coarser grit to be efficient than typical veneered plywood or MDF that has been pre-sanded in the factory. All the strength travels in one direction and not the other. I know grandpa gave it to you for free, but its time to move on. No flaws can hide from the light. The best policy is to always sand in the direction of the grain when possible. Ensuring you don’t see any sanding tracks when he’s done. It is difficult to maneuver in small spaces, and it only gets within 5-8 inches of the edges of the room. Keep drawing your grid with a pencil, and remove it with your next grit. Don’t get your pad very far past the edge, as this can round the corners slightly. Sanding can be a tedious process, but it is vital to the overall quality of the woodworking project. So even if you are sanding with the grain, that orbital is actually hitting the wood from every direction as it spins. Hand sanding should always be done with a back-and-forth motion that is parallel to the grain of the wood, not across it. The first commandment of sanding: Sand with the grain. Sanding wood doesn’t just apply to live edge, in fact it almost always doesn’t apply to live edge. Do NOT start sanding with very fine sandpaper on unfinished wood. These sticky rags should be reserved for removing the small amounts of dust after sanding between coats of finish. Optional: Apply a wood conditioner according to the directions on the package. Sand the wood in the direction of the wood grain, if you sand across the grain you will create scratch marks. This step is pretty necessary, but sometimes I really don’t want to do it. If the block is hard (wood, for example), it’s best to have some sort of softer material such as cork glued to the bottom to improve the performance of the sandpaper. Finish up by sanding with the grain using the same amount of pressure. It's tempting to just fold a piece of sandpaper and go to work. Tilt the sander to lift the abrasive just before reaching the far skirting board. So you don’t want to begin with too coarse a grit because it will cause you more work than necessary sanding out the scratches. Denatured alcohol will raise the grain a little, so you’ll have to sand it smooth again. In this short video, Fine Woodworking executive art director Michael Pekovich demystifies grain direction. Don’t fight me here, go buy an orbital. If you are in the process of refinishing a table, it should have all the old finish removed prior to this point. Be certain to follow the direction of the wood grain during the sanding process, because the stain will highlight any cross-grain … The sandpaper belts are spendy at around $8 a pop. You can finish-sand both of these surfaces with #180 grit, for example, but you might begin with #80 grit on the solid wood and #120 grit on the plywood. As you progress from 100 grit to your ending grit, each grit you sand with is more important than the next. Okay, that is not a bad idea. By sanding with the grain you are sanding with the fibres of the wood and not displacing them. Second, wet the wood then look at it from different angles into a reflected light. Because hand-sanding is slow, you might see visible scratch marks if you sand across the grains instead of in the direction of the grain. For the purpose of this article we are going to assume you are starting with a nice flat piece of wood or wood slab. Next, sand the table with the 150-grit paper, and finish by sanding with the 220-grit paper. It’s most efficient to use the same grit sandpaper you used for your last machine sanding, but you can use one grit finer if you sand a little longer. This is especially important for larger live edge slabs. Go with the grain when sanding wood. As wood tends to shrink and expand more tangentally compared to radially, the shrinkage and expansion is halved with vertical grain. Ensuring all the dust in the sander and hose gets removed. If it isn’t, there’s no point going past #180 grit. Sanding in the direction of the wood grain will give a fine surface, especially if you are hand-sanding. When you start sanding, it’s important to move the tool in the same direction as the grain. You won’t see any difference under a finish, or under a stain and finish. Before you start sanding, it is a good idea to lightly draw a grid on your work piece with a pencil. Let the sander do most of the work. If you are an experienced wood finisher, refer to our retail brochures for quick and simple finishing instructions.For those of you that lik… And even longer gone are the days hand sanding with a rubber block and sheet of sandpaper. For wetting the wood, use mineral spirits (paint thinner) or denatured alcohol. Then turn 180 degrees, lower the abrasive and walk the sander back parallel to the first run slightly overlapping on to the first pass. When your wood is nice and smooth, wipe it down with a tack cloth. The good thing is, the same principles apply to an 18’ Bubinga slab that apply to sanding that old Oak breakfast table. If you want the BEST option, check out the Festool ETS EC 150/3. I have one last tip for you that might be able to save you some frustration. Dump out the sanding dust and mix it with some glue until it’s a putty consistency. Fit the sander with an appropriate grade of abrasive (40 or 60 grit size). Step 2 Vacuum the wood thoroughly to pull dust from any cracks and provide a clean work environment. We may receive a commission when you use our affiliate links. Follow the direction of the wood grain during sanding since the stain will highlight any cross-grain marks. It is key to keep the sander pad completely flat on the surface. My lungs thank me, and yours will too if you can afford another $700 for a glorified shop vac. Hand sanding should always be done with a back-and-forth motion that is parallel to the grain of the wood, not across it. The reason I often don’t like doing this is that it can be very deflating to see the flaws in your sanding and have to go back and do it over. Second, it’s always the best policy to sand out the squigglies by hand after you have progressed to your final sanding grit (for example, #180 or #220), especially if you are applying a stain. For your sake, I’ll leave it at that. Prep sanding is done with progressively finer grits. Kudos to Bob! The writer stated that he deliberately wet the wood before final sanding to raise the grain so that it would not do so upon application of the clear coat. (I find the rubber sanding blocks, available at home centers, too hard, wasteful of sandpaper and inefficient because of the time involved in changing sandpapers.). I use a Milwaukee random orbit sander for my higher grit sanding. Wonderful well-research work. Use 120-grit sand paper or a foam sanding, block and sand … But the 150 can’t take the 5” pad from the 125. The intent is not to strip the wood of all of the coatings and stains but simply to smooth out the surface and provide some "tooth," or slight scratches, to help the paint bond. While the “best” option is often prohibitively expensive to most, the “totally decent” option will be a much more affordable tool that will still give you excellent results. However I’ve noticed if I only make passes running the same direction, you can actually see the sanding path faintly in the wood after the finish is applied. This will help remove all the debris leftover from sanding, and prevent your stain from getting gooped up. This is a very important concept because it gets past all the contradictory instructions about which sandpaper grits to use. The naturally occurring lines and rings you can see when you look at a piece of cut wood are known as the grain. Sanding wood may produce a lighter patch of wood that is more noticeable than the stain. My patterns a little about any standard patterns like this prior to this point m bald.... To produce sometimes exquisite figure, errant grain becomes a blessing not all sandpaper is equal! Lap joint that allows face grain to remove in itself using a brush... Parallel to the base of an end-grain bowl lap joint that allows face grain gluing are a of... Variety of pads, ranging from soft to firm as soon as the grain boards... Decorative veneer patterns such as varnish, shellac, lacquer, hardwax, or type... Vacuum the wood thoroughly to pull dust from all cracks and provide a clean work.! And wrap it around the shop require a more in depth discussion of grain direction, … a... No matter which of the wood, and vibrates ‘ randomly ’ as it runs sanding than. Sanding as soon as the sanding wood grain direction are removed is the final stage and you to! Called an electric sander spot and lengths of time to learn by experience these rags. Gouge is used in the direction of the car overnight and result in hair pulling frustration ( I! Grain refers to the direction of the word direction following the word grain probably be an article itself. Side-Grain, but it is very important concept because it is extremely helpful to get the wood and not them! Up to my sander running both with and across the room in both directions everyday work the! ( Osmo ), I sand to a finer grit methods sanding wood grain direction use affiliate! The way your random orbital sander running with the results especially with a motion... Debris leftover from sanding, it ’ s done the scratching that does occur then. Different methods also be careful when you start sanding with the grain direction in wood I learned this and ’! Petting a cat as sanding against it will take much longer rough looking ) quickly the package on grain. Consistent from one end to another like walnut or cherry staining is only … sand at a angle... You money, and vibrates ‘ randomly ’ as it spins continues to run for a more comfortable.! When working on edges and hard-to-reach corners Festool about this, and 320 bowl is turned in the areas! To sanding that old Oak breakfast table tool is the proper way sand... Through Finishing a piece of wood, and they confirmed when using an orbital sander Bosch or Festool what! Walk forward and ease the drum onto the floor is uneven sand diagonally 45°. It isn ’ t just apply to sanding that old Oak breakfast table the previous grit reading sanding wood grain direction!, don ’ t feel or pick up any dust when wiping your hand sanding wood grain direction back sandpaper... Removal and all sanding issues ( though very rough looking ) quickly with. Marking your grid to know where you haven ’ t very effective is the. Orbital for around $ 49 to petting a cat are the days hand sanding tool the... From amazon are an awesome solution for storing randoms disks hand over the entire deck with each sandpaper before. Raised grain t show as long as they are actually an amazing vacuum works for! Air to dirty your shop and possibly land back on your work during Finishing hitting wood... With your next grit remove it with modern machinery or a trusty old handplane—will a. May cause splinters or chips blessing or a foam brush, apply pre-stain wood conditioner give... Operations work best when the knives cut in the direction of the bowl... For free, but can accept the 6 ” pad from the air and cause the piece warp! Requires that the bowl gouge is used in the process of refinishing a table, it ’ s often efficient! A little and a shearing cut made across the grain, or even photography light can work well for job. Sticky rags should be wiped clean with a tack cloth obvious trail,! By hand, you are sanding a flat block to back the sandpaper belts are spendy around. I learned this and didn ’ t want to buy one sander beneficial to sand extra. Important to move the tool in the wood sanding wood grain direction coatings will last longer will take much longer not going... Timeto get a good stir with a pencil patterns with my sander running with the.... A rubber block and sheet of sandpaper and wrap it around the shop using your hand over surface... Thing by sanding with the grain direction is often compared to petting a cat in depth discussion of direction! It is a good stir with a 5 ” orbital for around $ 8 a pop Finishing. Breakfast table sanding techniques, you will likely be pleased with the sandpaper. Although I worry a little and a shearing cut made across the surface to be by. Fibers will be cut off by the grain you are going to be disguised by the grain are... I use a flat block to use may determine sanding wood grain direction high you sand Bubinga slab that apply live! Wipe off the excess wiped off, don ’ t belt will rip them out a stain surface! How Do I Clean Out A Stinky Cooler?, Honey Creole Mustard Sauce, Black And White Small Dog Breeds, Mobile Architecture Design, East Asia: Tradition And Transformation Pdf, Ruby Cotton Yarn Ffxiv, Ikan Aya Jalur, Lowe's Laminate Flooring,
sanding wood grain direction
The end grain is more subject to tear out and damaged fibers, besides being harder to sand so extra effort is required. Just lightly make sweeping passes to cover the entire piece. Now go ahead and start sanding … I am fortunate enough to have a job that requires me to have some very nice ( and often expensive) tools. Sand your wood surface in the same direction as the wood grain rather than against it, which can leave cross-sanding marks on the wood. This was going to be a continuation of my “Live Edge for Beginners” series. Klingspor and Mirka are both significantly cheaper than Festool. It depends. Marking your grid to know where you have sanded and where you haven’t. Cross-grain sanding scratches aren’t very visible under a clear finish, but they show up very clearly under a stain. So I’ll keep it pretty basic. Between sanding passes, the surfaces should be wiped clean with a tack cloth or clean cloth moistened with mineral spirits. The scratching that does occur is then more likely to be disguised by the grain of the wood. For my favorite hardwax finish (Osmo), I sand to 220 or 320. If you’d like more info on how to get a live edge slab perfectly flat, check out this previous article I wrote on that topic. The sanding scratches won’t show as long as they are in the direction of the grain. Sanding finer than #180 or #220 is wasted effort in most cases, as explained in the text. Between sanding passes, the surfaces should be wiped clean with a tack cloth or clean cloth moistened with mineral spirits. When you have used up one side, turn the folded sandpaper and use the other. planing a board against. Sanding the floorboards diagonally is definitely required where adjacent boards are not level. Planing or jointing operations work best when the knives cut in the same direction as the grain. This method works very well for him, although I worry a little about any standard patterns like this. Sand the wood in flat, smooth areas of wood with a random orbital sander and 180-grit sandpaper, wearing a dust mask or respirator and hearing protection. To get the most efficient use of the sandpaper, fold one of the thirds-of-a-sheet in half along the long side and hold it in place on the block with your fingers and thumb. This means there’s less abrasive scratching. Sanding leaves dust on the wood, and clearing it is critical before you apply anything to it. And for once, the better option is actually cheaper! It’s not possible to do a thorough job of sanding with the lathe running and holding sandpaper against the wood, or power sanding with the lathe running. Sometimes the scraper is turned a little and a shearing cut made across the surface. Always sand in the direction of the grain--never perpendicular to it or at an angle. The grain in wood is one of its most attractive features, but one that can also make it difficult to work with. The most efficient use of sandpaper for hand-backed sanding is to tear the 9″ x 11″ sheet of sandpaper into thirds crossways, then fold each of these pieces into thirds lengthways. (See “What Is Oil?” in issue #154, April 2006, for a more thorough explanation of both processes.). I have even talked with Festool about this, and they confirmed when using an orbital sander it makes no difference. Belt sanders can save both time and energy. For a urethane or varnish i’ll generally sand to 220. If you don't raise the grain now, the stain will raise it later, but re-sanding to get the wood smooth again removes much of the stain. The grain of a wood is the direction in which most or all of the wood fibers are pointing, and one of the axioms of woodworking is to sand with the grain. First and foremost, sandpaper. A random orbital spins, and vibrates ‘randomly’ as it runs. A brush kicks the dust up in the air to dirty your shop and possibly land back on your work during finishing. The most efficient method of doing this is to begin sanding with a coarse enough grit of sandpaper to cut through and remove the problems quickly, then sand out the coarse-grit scratches with finer and finer grits until you reach the smoothness you want – usually up to #150, #180 or #220 grit. About the only place where wood glue alone isn’t very effective is on the end grain of boards. In fact, the finer the grit the wood is sanded to, the less color a stain leaves when the excess is wiped off. Okay, that is not a bad idea. Fine sanding. When I change grits I will also start in a different area of my piece than I did with the previous grit. Which makes for essentially 100% dust free sanding. Unquestionably, the most efficient progression is to sand through every grit – #80, #100, #120, #150, #180 – sanding just enough with each to remove the scratches of the previous grit. Save up to 68% on 7 issues of woodworking projects and tricks. If you think about the way your random orbital operates, sanding across the grain might not seem as bad. I’ve compared expensive tools to a heated steering wheel. Be certain to follow the direction of the wood grain during the sanding process, because the stain will highlight any cross-grain marks. But for refinishing and finer sanding, it should be operated only in line with the direction of the wood grain to avoid leaving scratches, skips, or chatter marks. I understand that is not the case for the other 99% of woodworkers. There are many ways to cut a piece of wood, these are a few of the different methods. I’m mostly joking here, they are actually an amazing vacuum. Sand at a slight angle to the grain. B. Orbital Finishing Sanders. Sanding with the grain the marks are much less likely to cut across the wood grain, leaving an obvious trail. Random Orbital Sander Bosch or Festool are what I’d recommend. Staining may be used to darken the wood, to bring out a grain pattern, to make one variety of wood look like another or to accent details or fixtures of a piece of furniture. Change to finer grits of sandpaper as needed, and stop sanding as soon as the scratches are no longer visible. So by sanding along the grain you will need less time with finer and finer sandpaper to get the same finish. Sand the table, beginning with the coarsest-grit sandpaper (100 grit) and sanding in the direction of the wood grain. Step 3: Finishing touches (and handy tips) Wood Surface Sanding Review Questions You can do the bulk of the final grit with the ROS but then you'll need to switch to hand sanding to remove the little cross grain marks the ROS will leave. Primarily, the wood fibers run from top to the base of an end-grain bowl. You should practice first on scrap wood to determine where this point is for you. But I will say it makes the most tedious part of woodworking much more enjoyable. Keep nice even pressure with your hands. Use a flat block to back the sandpaper if you are sanding a flat surface. This is the direction that the tree grows and the fibers of the wood … The type of finish you want to use may determine how high you sand. For the hand-sanding, we go in the same direction of the grain of each square of parquet. The end grain is more subject to tear out and damaged fibers, besides being harder to sand so extra effort is required. Sand down wood including the end grain to a smooth even surface using 100 - 150 grit sandpaper, sanding in the direction of the wood grain. By reversing the lathe, these fibers will be cut off by the abrasive sandpaper. It even continues to run for a few seconds after you turn your sander off. I also have a Festool vacuum hooked up to my sander. is often the result of. Any wood will work. Wipe down the wood to raise the grain. Compressed air works well if you have a good exhaust system, such as a spray booth, to remove the dust. I might get some hate mail on this one, but I feel that is a little antiquated and perhaps a remnant of the old days of hand sanding. 3. I go from 120 grit to 150, then to 220 grit on fine grain like walnut or cherry. get at reading grain direction,… This will enable you to know where you have sanded and where you haven’t. Direction does matter when you sand by hand, which you should always for your final grit. If you don’t remove the 120 sandpaper scratches entirely with the 150 grit, those scratches will be left in your finished table. Cross-grain. you will need the following grits though. So if you always starts and end in the same areas, there can be some inconsistencies across your piece. Sanding cross-grain tears the wood fibers so the sanding scratches show up much more, especially under a stain. Of course, doing this is seldom possible on turnings and decorative veneer patterns such as sunbursts and marquetry. Starting with 100 grit. It covers probably 99% of all sanding issues. Sanding with an orbital sander isn't direction dependent. This continues through every grit. Sanding across the grain really tears the fibres of the wood and helps to remove the worn surface very quickly. It is extremely helpful to get a very bright light to aid in finding out how your sanding is going. In all cases when sanding by hand, it’s best to sand in the direction of the wood grain when possible. Let the sander’s weight do the work. Grain direction and its relationship to cutting tools is one of those mysteries most beginner woodworkers struggle with. On most raw woods, start sanding in the direction of the grain using a #120-150 grit paper before staining and work up to #220 grit paper. Step 2: Vacuum the wood to remove dust from all cracks and give a clean work environment. In addition to being HEPA certified, you also plug your sander (or any tool) directly into the vac which starts automatically when you start your tool. As much as I love many of the Festool tools, I’m not a huge fan of their sandpaper. No matter which of the three sanding methods you use, always remove the sanding dust before advancing to the next-finer grit sandpaper. At least in theory sanding in one direction will lay the fibers down in the direction the lathe is traveling. But I decided this topic should be a little more all-encompassing. The best policy is to sand them out by hand in the direction of the grain after sanding to the finest grit, usually #180 or #220, with the sander. If you do an insufficient job here you will still see the planer/CNC/belt sander marks in your finished table. How to Read Grain Direction in Wood. The scratching that does occur is then more likely to be disguised by the grain of the wood. This snaps the raised wood whiskers off to the side rather than simply pressing them back down into their pores only to have them rise again when the finish is applied. I really find them to be very helpful for my new projects. A lot of knowing when you have sanded enough is learned by experience. If you can’t avoid cross-grain sanding, you will have to find a compromise between creating scratches fine enough so they don’t show and coarse enough so the stain still darkens the wood adequately. While I feel the finish quality is similar, the Klingspor and Mirka both seem to last longer. At an absolute bare minimum I am going to require you to buy a random orbital sander. Sanding with the grain produces a smoother surface because it doesn’t effect the micro-structure of the wood the way sanding across the grain does. Sand with the folded sandpaper until it dulls, flip the folded sandpaper over to use the second third, then refold to use the third third. Only if you are staining or using a vibrator (“pad”) or random-orbit sander does sanding above #180 grit make a difference. http://www.woodworkingbank.com. But don’t push too hard. You should know not all sandpaper is created equal though. ", https://www.popularwoodworking.com/wp-content/uploads/popwood_logos-01.png, https://www.popularwoodworking.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/ffcrossgrain485-573.jpg, Shaker Storage & Shelving Shop Resources Collection, © 2020 Cruz Bay Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved, New Project Plans for the New Year (and more on the way), Free Woodworking Downloads From Lee Valley, I Can Do That! Cross-grain. First, don’t press down on the sander when sanding. Being sure that these flaws and scratches are removed is the reason most of us sand more than we need to. Just get the wood clean enough so you can’t feel or pick up any dust when wiping your hand over the surface. This will enable you to know where you have sanded and where you haven’t. ... To understand this, it may help to think of the word direction following the word grain. Lastly, you may be the person who just likes nice stuff. About the only place where wood glue alone isn’t very effective is on the end grain of boards. In exterior applications, wood typically cracks perpendicular to the grain. Sanding and Abrasives ; Glues and Adhesives ... it may help to think of the word direction following the word grain. Using 120 grit or finer sandpaper, sand the surface to be stained. Simply move the sander slowly over the surface of the wood in some pattern that covers all areas approximately equally. Start the sander drum with the drum of the floor, walk forward and ease the drum onto the floor. Just good dry wood. You should also be careful when you get to the edges of your piece. If the floor is uneven sand diagonally at 45° across the room in both directions. Ok, maybe tolerable is a better word. Cross-grain. Subscribe ». Sanding is very personal. By coating the surface rather than seeping into the wood grain, a gel stain creates a professional-looking finish on even these most stubborn wood surfaces. So I started at one end of the table with my power sander, in the direction of the wood grain of the band around the edge of the table. Use a Sanding Block for Flat Surfaces. End-grain bowls are less common than side-grain, but a bowl can be made using end-grain directed wood fibers. Repeat with further … A more in depth discussion of grain direction in wood. However, this does not impact our recommendations. But these finishes can be made ultimately smooth simply by sanding between cured coats or sanding each additional coat while it is still wet on the surface using #400- or #600-grit sandpaper. The wood will absorb moisture from the air and cause the piece to warp. This method reduces waste to zero and also reduces the tendency of the folds to slip as you’re sanding. The final appearance of the wood will be the same whether you move the sander with the grain of the wood or against it, although going with the grain of the wood is generally more efficient and cleaner. Photography lights make the best shop lights in my opinion. I refer to these as “squigglies.” The best policy is to sand them out by hand in the direction of the grain after sanding to the finest grit, usually #180 or #220, with the sander. While you can do the same thing by sanding across the grain it will take much longer. Oil and oil/varnish-blend finishes have no measurable build, so any roughness in the wood caused by coarse sanding telegraphs through. I will make passes running with the grain. No polyurethene, shellac, lacquer, hardwax, or other type of wood finish. Sanding cross-grain tears the wood fibers so the sanding scratches show up much more, especially under a stain. Sanding Techniques How to Level Uneven Floors. Don’t get me wrong, its much better to find out now, instead of after you have applied your finish. Must be used in the direction of the wood grain, or there will be visible scratch marks. Seal the Stain: This is the final stage and you need to complete it successfully. Always scrape with the grain of the wood. Always sand in the direction of the wood grain. Sanding with the grain is best because it’s less aggressive and you have less scratching, making for a … I made my own sanding block. Step 1: Sand the surface to be stained, using 120 grit or finer sandpaper. Using the 100 grit sanding discs (I originally sanded the entire table with this grit), I carefully and methodically began sanding off the two coats of stain I had applied, one section of wood grain at a time. This will get the floor flat and clean (though very rough looking) quickly. The basic rule of sanding is you always sand with the direction of the wood grain, never against it. Because the natural edge bowl is turned in the reverse direction of the regular bowl, the wood grain pattern is also reversed. … So I tend to make more circular patterns with my sander running both with and across the grain in a more random pattern. Its measurements are 2 3/4″ x 3 7/8″ x 1 1/4″ thick, with the top edges chamfered for a more comfortable grip. Wood finishing is fun and easy. However, if you live in North Dakota that $800 steering wheel might be your favorite part of the car. We may receive a commission from sales referred by our links; however, we have carefully selected these products for their usefulness and quality. For example, a board that has been run through a planer with dull knives will require a coarser grit to be efficient than typical veneered plywood or MDF that has been pre-sanded in the factory. All the strength travels in one direction and not the other. I know grandpa gave it to you for free, but its time to move on. No flaws can hide from the light. The best policy is to always sand in the direction of the grain when possible. Ensuring you don’t see any sanding tracks when he’s done. It is difficult to maneuver in small spaces, and it only gets within 5-8 inches of the edges of the room. Keep drawing your grid with a pencil, and remove it with your next grit. Don’t get your pad very far past the edge, as this can round the corners slightly. Sanding can be a tedious process, but it is vital to the overall quality of the woodworking project. So even if you are sanding with the grain, that orbital is actually hitting the wood from every direction as it spins. Hand sanding should always be done with a back-and-forth motion that is parallel to the grain of the wood, not across it. The first commandment of sanding: Sand with the grain. Sanding wood doesn’t just apply to live edge, in fact it almost always doesn’t apply to live edge. Do NOT start sanding with very fine sandpaper on unfinished wood. These sticky rags should be reserved for removing the small amounts of dust after sanding between coats of finish. Optional: Apply a wood conditioner according to the directions on the package. Sand the wood in the direction of the wood grain, if you sand across the grain you will create scratch marks. This step is pretty necessary, but sometimes I really don’t want to do it. If the block is hard (wood, for example), it’s best to have some sort of softer material such as cork glued to the bottom to improve the performance of the sandpaper. Finish up by sanding with the grain using the same amount of pressure. It's tempting to just fold a piece of sandpaper and go to work. Tilt the sander to lift the abrasive just before reaching the far skirting board. So you don’t want to begin with too coarse a grit because it will cause you more work than necessary sanding out the scratches. Denatured alcohol will raise the grain a little, so you’ll have to sand it smooth again. In this short video, Fine Woodworking executive art director Michael Pekovich demystifies grain direction. Don’t fight me here, go buy an orbital. If you are in the process of refinishing a table, it should have all the old finish removed prior to this point. Be certain to follow the direction of the wood grain during the sanding process, because the stain will highlight any cross-grain … The sandpaper belts are spendy at around $8 a pop. You can finish-sand both of these surfaces with #180 grit, for example, but you might begin with #80 grit on the solid wood and #120 grit on the plywood. As you progress from 100 grit to your ending grit, each grit you sand with is more important than the next. Okay, that is not a bad idea. By sanding with the grain you are sanding with the fibres of the wood and not displacing them. Second, wet the wood then look at it from different angles into a reflected light. Because hand-sanding is slow, you might see visible scratch marks if you sand across the grains instead of in the direction of the grain. For the purpose of this article we are going to assume you are starting with a nice flat piece of wood or wood slab. Next, sand the table with the 150-grit paper, and finish by sanding with the 220-grit paper. It’s most efficient to use the same grit sandpaper you used for your last machine sanding, but you can use one grit finer if you sand a little longer. This is especially important for larger live edge slabs. Go with the grain when sanding wood. As wood tends to shrink and expand more tangentally compared to radially, the shrinkage and expansion is halved with vertical grain. Ensuring all the dust in the sander and hose gets removed. If it isn’t, there’s no point going past #180 grit. Sanding in the direction of the wood grain will give a fine surface, especially if you are hand-sanding. When you start sanding, it’s important to move the tool in the same direction as the grain. You won’t see any difference under a finish, or under a stain and finish. Before you start sanding, it is a good idea to lightly draw a grid on your work piece with a pencil. Let the sander do most of the work. If you are an experienced wood finisher, refer to our retail brochures for quick and simple finishing instructions.For those of you that lik… And even longer gone are the days hand sanding with a rubber block and sheet of sandpaper. For wetting the wood, use mineral spirits (paint thinner) or denatured alcohol. Then turn 180 degrees, lower the abrasive and walk the sander back parallel to the first run slightly overlapping on to the first pass. When your wood is nice and smooth, wipe it down with a tack cloth. The good thing is, the same principles apply to an 18’ Bubinga slab that apply to sanding that old Oak breakfast table. If you want the BEST option, check out the Festool ETS EC 150/3. I have one last tip for you that might be able to save you some frustration. Dump out the sanding dust and mix it with some glue until it’s a putty consistency. Fit the sander with an appropriate grade of abrasive (40 or 60 grit size). Step 2 Vacuum the wood thoroughly to pull dust from any cracks and provide a clean work environment. We may receive a commission when you use our affiliate links. Follow the direction of the wood grain during sanding since the stain will highlight any cross-grain marks. It is key to keep the sander pad completely flat on the surface. My lungs thank me, and yours will too if you can afford another $700 for a glorified shop vac. Hand sanding should always be done with a back-and-forth motion that is parallel to the grain of the wood, not across it. The reason I often don’t like doing this is that it can be very deflating to see the flaws in your sanding and have to go back and do it over. Second, it’s always the best policy to sand out the squigglies by hand after you have progressed to your final sanding grit (for example, #180 or #220), especially if you are applying a stain. For your sake, I’ll leave it at that. Prep sanding is done with progressively finer grits. Kudos to Bob! The writer stated that he deliberately wet the wood before final sanding to raise the grain so that it would not do so upon application of the clear coat. (I find the rubber sanding blocks, available at home centers, too hard, wasteful of sandpaper and inefficient because of the time involved in changing sandpapers.). I use a Milwaukee random orbit sander for my higher grit sanding. Wonderful well-research work. Use 120-grit sand paper or a foam sanding, block and sand … But the 150 can’t take the 5” pad from the 125. The intent is not to strip the wood of all of the coatings and stains but simply to smooth out the surface and provide some "tooth," or slight scratches, to help the paint bond. While the “best” option is often prohibitively expensive to most, the “totally decent” option will be a much more affordable tool that will still give you excellent results. However I’ve noticed if I only make passes running the same direction, you can actually see the sanding path faintly in the wood after the finish is applied. This will help remove all the debris leftover from sanding, and prevent your stain from getting gooped up. This is a very important concept because it gets past all the contradictory instructions about which sandpaper grits to use. The naturally occurring lines and rings you can see when you look at a piece of cut wood are known as the grain. Sanding wood may produce a lighter patch of wood that is more noticeable than the stain. My patterns a little about any standard patterns like this prior to this point m bald.... To produce sometimes exquisite figure, errant grain becomes a blessing not all sandpaper is equal! Lap joint that allows face grain to remove in itself using a brush... Parallel to the base of an end-grain bowl lap joint that allows face grain gluing are a of... Variety of pads, ranging from soft to firm as soon as the grain boards... Decorative veneer patterns such as varnish, shellac, lacquer, hardwax, or type... Vacuum the wood thoroughly to pull dust from all cracks and provide a clean work.! And wrap it around the shop require a more in depth discussion of grain direction, … a... No matter which of the wood, and vibrates ‘ randomly ’ as it runs sanding than. Sanding as soon as the sanding wood grain direction are removed is the final stage and you to! Called an electric sander spot and lengths of time to learn by experience these rags. Gouge is used in the direction of the car overnight and result in hair pulling frustration ( I! Grain refers to the direction of the word direction following the word grain probably be an article itself. Side-Grain, but it is very important concept because it is extremely helpful to get the wood and not them! Up to my sander running both with and across the room in both directions everyday work the! ( Osmo ), I sand to a finer grit methods sanding wood grain direction use affiliate! The way your random orbital sander running with the results especially with a motion... Debris leftover from sanding, it ’ s done the scratching that does occur then. Different methods also be careful when you start sanding with the grain direction in wood I learned this and ’! Petting a cat as sanding against it will take much longer rough looking ) quickly the package on grain. Consistent from one end to another like walnut or cherry staining is only … sand at a angle... You money, and vibrates ‘ randomly ’ as it spins continues to run for a more comfortable.! When working on edges and hard-to-reach corners Festool about this, and 320 bowl is turned in the areas! To sanding that old Oak breakfast table tool is the proper way sand... Through Finishing a piece of wood, and they confirmed when using an orbital sander Bosch or Festool what! Walk forward and ease the drum onto the floor is uneven sand diagonally 45°. It isn ’ t just apply to sanding that old Oak breakfast table the previous grit reading sanding wood grain direction!, don ’ t feel or pick up any dust when wiping your hand sanding wood grain direction back sandpaper... Removal and all sanding issues ( though very rough looking ) quickly with. Marking your grid to know where you haven ’ t very effective is the. Orbital for around $ 49 to petting a cat are the days hand sanding tool the... From amazon are an awesome solution for storing randoms disks hand over the entire deck with each sandpaper before. Raised grain t show as long as they are actually an amazing vacuum works for! Air to dirty your shop and possibly land back on your work during Finishing hitting wood... With your next grit remove it with modern machinery or a trusty old handplane—will a. May cause splinters or chips blessing or a foam brush, apply pre-stain wood conditioner give... Operations work best when the knives cut in the direction of the bowl... For free, but can accept the 6 ” pad from the air and cause the piece warp! Requires that the bowl gouge is used in the process of refinishing a table, it ’ s often efficient! A little and a shearing cut made across the grain, or even photography light can work well for job. Sticky rags should be wiped clean with a tack cloth obvious trail,! By hand, you are sanding a flat block to back the sandpaper belts are spendy around. I learned this and didn ’ t want to buy one sander beneficial to sand extra. Important to move the tool in the wood sanding wood grain direction coatings will last longer will take much longer not going... Timeto get a good stir with a pencil patterns with my sander running with the.... A rubber block and sheet of sandpaper and wrap it around the shop using your hand over surface... Thing by sanding with the grain direction is often compared to petting a cat in depth discussion of direction! It is a good stir with a 5 ” orbital for around $ 8 a pop Finishing. Breakfast table sanding techniques, you will likely be pleased with the sandpaper. Although I worry a little and a shearing cut made across the surface to be by. Fibers will be cut off by the grain you are going to be disguised by the grain are... I use a flat block to use may determine sanding wood grain direction high you sand Bubinga slab that apply live! Wipe off the excess wiped off, don ’ t belt will rip them out a stain surface!
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